A scene that might have seemed like comedy just a few years ago is now playing out in bookstores across America. A lesbian couple recently documented their discovery of children’s books in Barnes & Noble’s LGBTQ section, capturing their genuine surprise at titles designed to introduce complex identity concepts to the youngest readers.
“We’re gay but we’re in Barnes and Noble’s and there’s a kids book section, a gay kids book section, and this is crazy,” one person remarks in the video.
What began as internet humor has crossed into reality, and the implications are more serious than anyone anticipated. The concept of “gayby” – once a tongue-in-cheek term that existed purely in jokes and memes – has materialized into actual children’s literature,
The book that caught their attention was an alphabet primer featuring what they described as unconventional entries for early learners. “There’s the gay ABCs right, bye bye binary,” they observed, noting the contrast between traditional alphabet books and this new approach to early childhood education.
As they flipped through the pages, their commentary revealed a mixture of acceptance and concern. “A is for arrow and ace, B is for bye, this is crazy. We’re gay, but this is crazy. What for a baby?” The reaction highlights how even members of the LGBTQ community are grappling with questions about introducing complex concepts to very young children.
The book’s progression seemed to follow a pattern that the reviewers found increasingly palatable. “E is for equality, we’ll take that. F is for family, okay, we’re getting better,” they noted, suggesting that some concepts felt more universally appropriate than others.
However, certain entries continued to raise eyebrows. “I is for intersex,. It’s pushing it for a baby, this is pushing it,” one commented, while finding other entries more acceptable: “J is for joy, we’ll take that.”
When even lesbian couples express discomfort with the content, it signals that the movement has potentially overextended its reach. The internal pushback suggests that not everyone within the community supports introducing complex identity concepts to children who haven’t yet developed basic language skills.
This discovery represents a broader cultural shift in children’s publishing, where books that were once considered satirical concepts have become mainstream offerings in major bookstore chains. The existence of entire sections dedicated to LGBTQ children’s literature signals how dramatic the situation has become.
The video captures a moment where even those within the LGBTQ community are questioning the appropriateness of certain content for young audiences. The timing couldn’t be more precarious. As acceptance of gay marriage and LGBT rights reached historic highs, these developments risk triggering a backlash that could undo decades of progress. The concern isn’t merely about individual books, but about the potential for overreach to radicalize moderate voices who previously supported LGBT equality.
The question now isn’t whether “gayby” was ever funny, but whether its transition from joke to reality represents progress or a step too far.